In February of 2002, I attempted gather bodies for a winter 14er summit attempt. Unfortunately, the climbing "party" fast turned into a climbing twosome.

The avalanche danger, while not a huge factor on the peaks we were going to attempt, was scheduled to be significant. The day before we left, I checked the Denver area avalanche web site and read:

N & C mtns: overall CONSIDERABLE. Triggered releases by backcountry travelers are possible on W-N-E aspects and steeper at all elevations. The most suspect are recently wind-loaded slopes and gullies 35 degrees and steeper. Unstable slabs are probable on steep terrain. Natural avalanches are possible and human triggered avalanches are likely.

On Thursday there were 2 separate, fatal avalanche accidents. One was near Ashcroft south of Aspen, in which 1 BC skier was killed and 2 others were injured. Rescuers who went into the Ashcroft area yesterday describe the snowpack as "really scary". The other was outside the Aspen Mtn ski area boundary, in which an out-of-bounds skier was killed. We will get a more detailed report on our web site asap.